CHAPTER 15:
CORNSTALK
"We've got to tell Dumbledore," Ron exclaimed, trying his best to keep quiet.
"Hold on, Ron," said Hermione. "There's still a little more left." She looked back down at the book. "Among the many theories of the Mothman's origin, the most famous is the Curse of Cornstalk theory. For more information on Cornstalk's Curse, turn to page 190." She did as the book told her. "Here it is. Cornstalk." She cleared her throat. "A little more than two hundred years ago, in the Ohio River Valley, in Southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia, there lived a feared and respected Shawnee chief named Keigh-tugh-gua, which means Cornstalk in English. He was not only a great chief, brave warrior, and fierce fighter, but was also a highly-skilled wizard and polyanimagus."
"What's that?" Ron interrupted.
"What's what?" Hermione asked.
"A poly-whatever?"
"A polyanimagus. It's like an animagus, but capable of changing into more than one animal. However, they're extremely rare, today. Only the Native American wizards have ever been able to master it." She continued reading. "When White men began to move westwards into their river valley in search of the 'promise land', the Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandot, Mingo, Miami, Ottawa, and Illinois tribes massed together to form a mighty confederacy, led by Cornstalk, in order to keep these White men out. Unfortunately, the Native Americans were massacred the White men's muskets, and more than twice as many Native Americans were killed then White men. As time passed, Cornstalk made peace with the White men.
"When the British Redcoats began to tempt the Native Americans into attacking the Colonies, during a period in Muggle history known as the American Revolution, Cornstalk would often inform the White settlers ahead of time. Soon, the tribes massed together to attack the Colonies, after being coaxed by the British. At the same time, Cornstalk and another Native American, Red Hawk, went to the Colonials, telling them that they did not wish to fight with them, but would if the other tribes did so. Almost immediately, the Colonials took both men hostage, thinking that the tribes would not attack the fort if their leader were inside.
"Although taken hostage, the men were treated well, and were given comfortable quarters. This lead some of the tribes to wonder if Cornstalk intentionally taken himself into custody. On November 9th, Cornstalk's son, Ellinipisico, walked up to the fort in order to visit his father. He was also detained.
"The next day, two soldiers, who were hunting deer at the time, were ambushed by Native Americans. One managed to escape. The other died a bloody death. This angered the Colonials so much that they decided to kill their three hostages as revenge. As they burst through the doorway, Cornstalk rose to meet them. He faced them with such bravery that the White men paused momentarily in their attack. Then, they opened fire. The other Native Americans fell dead almost instantly. Cornstalk, however, endured eight shots before finally collapsing to the ground. And as he died, he looked up at the Colonials and uttered a curse upon the Ohio River Valley. This curse is said to have given rise to the Mothman of Point Pleasant."
TO BE CONTINUED
CORNSTALK
"We've got to tell Dumbledore," Ron exclaimed, trying his best to keep quiet.
"Hold on, Ron," said Hermione. "There's still a little more left." She looked back down at the book. "Among the many theories of the Mothman's origin, the most famous is the Curse of Cornstalk theory. For more information on Cornstalk's Curse, turn to page 190." She did as the book told her. "Here it is. Cornstalk." She cleared her throat. "A little more than two hundred years ago, in the Ohio River Valley, in Southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia, there lived a feared and respected Shawnee chief named Keigh-tugh-gua, which means Cornstalk in English. He was not only a great chief, brave warrior, and fierce fighter, but was also a highly-skilled wizard and polyanimagus."
"What's that?" Ron interrupted.
"What's what?" Hermione asked.
"A poly-whatever?"
"A polyanimagus. It's like an animagus, but capable of changing into more than one animal. However, they're extremely rare, today. Only the Native American wizards have ever been able to master it." She continued reading. "When White men began to move westwards into their river valley in search of the 'promise land', the Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandot, Mingo, Miami, Ottawa, and Illinois tribes massed together to form a mighty confederacy, led by Cornstalk, in order to keep these White men out. Unfortunately, the Native Americans were massacred the White men's muskets, and more than twice as many Native Americans were killed then White men. As time passed, Cornstalk made peace with the White men.
"When the British Redcoats began to tempt the Native Americans into attacking the Colonies, during a period in Muggle history known as the American Revolution, Cornstalk would often inform the White settlers ahead of time. Soon, the tribes massed together to attack the Colonies, after being coaxed by the British. At the same time, Cornstalk and another Native American, Red Hawk, went to the Colonials, telling them that they did not wish to fight with them, but would if the other tribes did so. Almost immediately, the Colonials took both men hostage, thinking that the tribes would not attack the fort if their leader were inside.
"Although taken hostage, the men were treated well, and were given comfortable quarters. This lead some of the tribes to wonder if Cornstalk intentionally taken himself into custody. On November 9th, Cornstalk's son, Ellinipisico, walked up to the fort in order to visit his father. He was also detained.
"The next day, two soldiers, who were hunting deer at the time, were ambushed by Native Americans. One managed to escape. The other died a bloody death. This angered the Colonials so much that they decided to kill their three hostages as revenge. As they burst through the doorway, Cornstalk rose to meet them. He faced them with such bravery that the White men paused momentarily in their attack. Then, they opened fire. The other Native Americans fell dead almost instantly. Cornstalk, however, endured eight shots before finally collapsing to the ground. And as he died, he looked up at the Colonials and uttered a curse upon the Ohio River Valley. This curse is said to have given rise to the Mothman of Point Pleasant."
TO BE CONTINUED